United must meet Atletico Madrid’s £28m buyout clause to land defender

A round up of sporting headlines including news from Manchester United, Southampton, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal.

DAILY MAIL: Double delight for Van Persie as United rocket up to third in the table after sealing fifth win on the spin at Southampton. Also: Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri, 27, has admitted he faces an uncertain future at the club.

GUARDIAN: Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is considering starting Diego Costa, 26, in Wednesday’s final Champions League group game against Sporting Lisbon as he seeks to improve the Spain forward’s match fitness after his progress was interrupted by injury.

DAILY STAR: Manchester United have suffered a blow in their pursuit of Atletico Madrid defender Diego Godin, with the Spanish champions insisting the 28-year-old is not for sale. Also: Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal look set for disappointment in the race for Paulo Dybala’s signature, with the 21-year-old Argentine striker set to sign a new deal at Palermo.

DAILY MIRROR: Liverpool will have to pay £4m if they want to sign Benfica’s Uruguayan right-back Maxi Pereira, 30. Also: West Ham’s 26-year-old defender Winston Reid, who is out of contract in the summer, is demanding a huge wage rise to remain with the Hammers and could be sold in January, with Arsenal and Liverpool among his suitors.

TIMES: Defender Pablo Zabaleta believes Manchester City face a huge challenge to produce their own first-team players in the future - but is convinced the club’s new £200m training complex will drastically increase their youngsters’ prospects of making the grade.

TELEGRAPH: Defiant Wenger shrugs off three defeats in five games and the ‘inexcusable’ abuse directed at him by Arsenal fans at Stoke station. Also: Manager Louis van Gaal has cast doubt over Radamel Falcao’s long-term future at Manchester United by claiming he is “not interested” in the 28-year-old Colombia forward’s reaction to being held back from first-team action at the club.

SUN: Manchester City are lining up a move for 21-year-old Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, with the ex-Manchester United player and France international seen as a replacement for 31-year-old Yaya Toure.

DAILY EXPRESS: Alternatively, Atletico Madrid have told Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal that he must meet Godin’s £28.5m buyout clause if he wants to land the defender in January.